13 August 2019
 Categories: Business, Blog

If you're someone who enjoys paying tribute to the deceased, one of the road trips that you might wish to take is to visit roadside memorials. By browsing some online maps of target areas, you'll be able to find where certain memorials are located — and then plan a route that will allow you to visit many of them. Different people have different reasons to visit roadside memorials. Some people are curious about these sites, while others may find them cathartic. Once you've determined your route, here are some tips that can help you to visit the memorials.

Watch For Traffic

It's important to know that visiting roadside memorials has its safety risks. Because of their roadside location, and the fact that some passing motorists may be distracted by stopped traffic, you must not lose sight of the fact that you're just feet from fast-moving cars. There are a number of steps that you can take to keep safe. Always pull your vehicle as far off the road as possible, and use your hazard lights to alert other motorists to your presence. Don't visit any roadside memorials in low-light situations, such as at dusk, when the visibility in the area in compromised.

Be Respectful

You shouldn't ever lose sight of the fact that a roadside memorial pays tribute to someone who has passed away. Even if the death was decades ago, these sites are still somber. It's important to be respectful when you visit a roadside memorial. This is especially true if there are other people viewing the memorial, because you don't know their connection to the deceased. The last thing that you want to do is act in a disrespectful manner — perhaps talking loudly or taking some selfies — and then realize that the other people who are present are family members of the individual who died.

Consider A Donation

A lot of people, strangers included, visit roadside memorials with the intention of donating something to the site. There are many different things to consider. Some people leave candles, while others write down messages on prayer cards and tuck them under something at the scene. If you don't wish to physically leave something at the memorial there's another option — making a donation to a relevant charity. For example, if a particularly poignant memorial pays tribute to someone who died as a result of a collision with a drunk driver, you might think about making a small financial donation to a charity that supports drunk driving accident victims.

Look at a few maps, such as from Road Map Obituaries, to begin plotting your trip.